Brillig

I second that.

EventServices

Sometimes it works to use "Tour de" versus "Tour of". I think it works fine for Georgia.

Hill Climber

Tour of Georgia is better... but for those of us actually from the south Tour a' Georgia is the best!

Sasquatchula

Being Caliornia, shouldn't we go with something like "el viaje de California"?

zakk

Velta de Kaleforneia (to honor our Gubber....er....Governator)

caloso

I actually signed up to volunteer a couple of months ago but haven't heard anything. Re the name, I would have liked "La Vuelta de California."

jedi_rider

My vote for the race name is: California 500 (or whatever the distance is).

I read an interesting article on the 'net where Amgen is the inventor of EPO. Ironic, isn't it? It should be a fast race !

EventServices

If you volunteered, you'll be notified shortly. Medalist Sports is still working on the huge job of coordinating the many communities and LOCs (Local Organizing Committees) along the route.
Keep that week open on your calendar. It's possible that you may not hear from ToC until after the holidays!

If you only knew how much work was involved in making an event of this magnitude HAPPEN...

If it was "Allez, y'all" in Georgia, what will it be in CA?

2Rodies

"Allez Dude"

dolophonic

apurate vos..

caloso

"Vos?" Second person plural familiar? Well, aren't we all Academia Real?

My suggestion was going to be a little more "pocho": !Andale, Vato!"

spingineer

Too bad they couldn't push it out to April. They really are missing the beauty of California. Wonder if they'll do some of the Redwoods. Would be cool if they hit Angeles Crest Hwy, and come back through Mt. Baldy ... but otherwise, it looks like a pretty flat tour ... and it will be pretty fast.

cosmo_the_third

I think its better to keep it as an early season warm-up. The Europeans have better things to do in April, unless the organizers wanted to go head-to-head with the Tour de Georgia. Besides, it's a long way from Europe to California, and having it so early in the season means no over-focused Euros will have to worry about it screwing up their circadian rhythms in mid-season. I think this is why other non-European races (Tour of Qatar, Tour de Lankawi, JCTDU) are early in the season (though JCTDU might have something to do with being on the wrong half of the planet. )

spingineer

I'd have to admit, seeing them race through Big Sur would be fun.

RockyMtnMerlin

Having spent a lot of time on that highway, it would be super cool if they have a helo for shots from the ocean side looking towards the mountains. Would love to see a Watson photo going over that high brigde!!!!!!!!!

dolophonic

round my way thats what we say..chingon.

maby venga would be better.

caloso

So, I mentioned to my receptionist how excited I was that this new Tour is coming and that I was going to ask for some time off in February for it. And she says, "So you're going to race in it?"

Hah. Yeah, didn't I mention that Johan saw me on the commute to work and says "Hey, you're our new lead-out man!"

JohnSFO

While I'd love to see that as well, it ain't gonna happen. This from the 'Ask Graham' section of Watson's website:

The just-announced route for the Amgen Tour of California will pass through all the great wine producing areas of California...surely you won't miss a chance to cover this viniferous, splendiferous event, will you? I mean, that time of year in Belgium, even the beer is frozen solid!

Yes, Alan, but Belgium is where the real bike races take place...and therefore Belgium is where I'll be at that time - and Spain before it, of course, for the Tour of Valencia... GW

RockyMtnMerlin

aadhils

I'll be there hopefully. Mebbe i'll bike to San Francisco to add a century to it ...

JungleCat

Why not later, during the summer when epic climbs into the Sierras could be included? Maybe after the Vuelta?

Laggard

After three grand tours, I don't see it creating much excitment in the European squads. The big tour guys are done for the year and the rest are concentrating on the worlds and the final one day races of the year.

cyclezen

As great as the whole thing will be for us, can't hardly expect the Euros to drop everything and run over here. If all those teams actually do come, it will be great and that will bring the press and media corp along as well. It'll take quite some years of continuous running before it earns soild credibility as a solid part of the calendar.
One of my fears is that the mass-start stages all end in field sprints. That doesn't mean we don't have terrain that can challenge a Pro Peleton; on the contrary, there's plenty of that. The problem, at least here in Santa Barbara County is the roads which are challenging are also absolute crap, moon-cratered surface. And our county is notorious for letting these sideroads just slide from bad to worse. It wasn't until this past Spring that most of Foxen Cyn Rd - the big Wine trail (which the race will prolly use), was finally repaved, until then it was notorious as absolute crappage surface. Most of the real roads that might offer some climbing in SB County are ****e for long sections, Whatz left are a few smooth highspeed roads, like 154, that will have them all peaking in a fast pack. That SB county might actually resurface some roads enough to make them worth racing up, seems contrary to the general tenor of the country government.
A possible alternate might be cutting off Foxen Cyn over to Los Alamos and over the Harris Grade to Lompoc and down rt1 to Gaviota, but then CHPs is stuck with 'controlling' 101 for some 28 miles, the only road along that section of coast, and truly flat. Nope, going over from Santa Ynez side is prolly the 90% bet.
I hope the County Governments can cooperate and at least get some good surface reconditioning done, if not repaving.
Having the race climb past Cold Spring Tavern would be great. Would prolly be too much to ask to have Camino Cielo 'conditioned' to PaintedCave (really needs work!) and a hairball descent back to 154...
Anyway, something to look forward on those winter days in SB

If No America can claim the early part of the Calendar, over the coming years, with California, Georgia and other races, that would be an admirable goal for US cycling to shoot for.

kubla khan

sad, but true.

the ToC will be nothing but a neo-pro event and a warm up for the pittance of real pros that will show up.

bbattle

Where's Team Jelly Belly?